Back of the garage

there used to be some asbestos type material available for use as a heat sink when pipe welding, i think there is a putty type substance around that you put near the weld zone to act as a heat sink to minimize distortion.

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off no.3"
 
Thanks Tim - I'll just do asbestos a job as I can [:eek:)]
My welding tends to just stick to the top surface anyway so there's little chance of distortion with the amount of heat I put in ;)

'Harvey the RV'
 
After attacking poor unsuspecting Harvey with sharp object (I bought a new pack of hacksaw blades) a plan is slowly forming on how I'll put him back together - We can re-build him, it will cost 6,000,000 Peso's (about £50.16p)

'Harvey the RV'
 
1 joggler/hole punch - 1 set of assorted welding clamps - 1 pair of magnetic work holders and a spot welder remover to take it over the £50 for free delivery :)
Grand total £50.16p -[8D]

You start these things and realise maybe you need more stuff to fix it:I

'Harvey the RV'
 
Legend has it that if you cut back far enough you will eventually reach metal - RUBBISH[xx(]





It's getting a bit draughty [:0]




A peak kit[V]



A bit of work required before I glue it back on :)



What's left is actually quite solid, just surface rust, so there should be plenty to weld to. I really should take the screen out but I think that is all that is keeping the front panel in shape [:0]

'Harvey the RV'
 
At least you know that when you have finished, the job will have been done properly, with no hidden rot. Keep up the good work, you have given me the inspiration to spend a morning at the workshop. Didn't do much, but did convert my mig from gasless to gas. It is transformed. :)

'It's not a proper slider'
 
It's a start and that is all it needs for things to start happening :)

'Harvey the RV'
 
have you considered a convertible?

that is one heck of a repair to suss out, I thought I had problems[:0] windscreen looks vulnerable but guess there's not much left keep things lined up without it.

Bessie - four star commerdation
 
fully air-con :), its a bit of a gamble but probably best to keep the screen in, but cover it well ;)

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off no.3"
 
quote:
Originally posted by studiocommer

have you considered a convertible?

that is one heck of a repair to suss out, I thought I had problems[:0] windscreen looks vulnerable but guess there's not much left keep things lined up without it.

Bessie - four star commerdation



I'm starting to think shuttering and concrete:I
I'm actually getting quite exited and looking forward to grafting in the new metal. It seems to be one of those jobs that no one has ever tackled in this way, a bit of nip and tuck (botch). I'm sure some one has but this time I want to pass on some useful experience and hopefully take some of the mystery out of this particular task so others can do a more professional job in the future. Martin has done a proper job on the 'Tector' but I want to do a reasonable repair with the simplest tools and least metal as possible[^]. I'll do my best and all will be revealed - warts and all.
When you think of it there isn't much metal left in the roof - with the pop-top and sans peak I'm actually not far off a convertible - pitty I repaired the rear section:I

'Harvey the RV'
 
my first van didn't have much in the way of metal left attaching roof to body - and it was striking how little there is up there to start with. It was quite spectacular when inept scrappie tried picking her up with chains through the windows, the wheels never left the ground[:0]

will be very interesting to follow progress as it is a very common commer affliction and a tricky one to work out - you're one of the pioneers Panky[^]

Bessie - four star commerdation
 
Thanks Jules, it had to be done:I

I promised warts and all and believe me there are plenty of warts.
2nd mistake (I'll tell you the first later) was to use what metal I had, it was free but too thin, but I persevered with the first sections first offered up as one then tacked on as two pieces. Notice how the MIG packaging comes in handy [^]





I learned my lesson (again) and bought a nice sheet of shiney new sheet and made the last bits from that - oh so much easier when you use the proper stuff and fix it securely before you even switch on the MIG


Sorted out a couple of little grott spots along the side of the roof.



And ended the day splashing rust eater around



The first mistake I made (apart from looking up [xx(]) was to forge on ahead without thinking the job through properly. If I was doing it again I think I would tackle the repairs from the inside - see what you think.



I think if you removed the curved panel that covers the wiper mechanism by, drilling out the spot welds, access would be far easier from the inside and the repair much neater.
The rest of the lower peak is solid so I'll splurge the ubiquitous rust killer around and spray in some primer and wax-oil to preserve it for a while longer. Next job is to re-make the lower peak on the drivers side and then tackle the peak itself and try to make them stick together - easy :I

'Harvey the RV'
 
i see what your saying panky, the only problem with working inside the van though is that you would need plenty of ventilation , i know this from first hand experiance when i was welding my floorpans in, everything was going great up until i nearly passed out from the fumes from the welder, it wasnt very nice i can tell you, i didnt know what was going on ,i went boss eyed and every thing ,i honestly thought that i was having a heart attach or something. it gave me a right headache afterwards. i was welding and was obviously to close to the welding itself, i was trying to get a good view of what i was doing. but i didnt realize that i hadnt opened any other windows to let fresh air in. so to any other biginner welders out there take notice from my mistaes.;):p[xx(]
 
Good grief Woolfy[:0] I think the problem you had was due to bending over the job and getting the fumes full in the face[xx(] But I agree plenty of ventilation is essential - not normally a problem with a Commer :I
One thing I've noticed is that the metal is very thick for bodywork - when you eventually find good stuff to weld to, pity the rust prevention wasn't that good [V]

'Harvey the RV'
 
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